The State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has confirmed that Bangladesh, along with five other countries, will receive a $30 million grant from the Climate Investment Fund (CIF). The information was disclosed on Thursday night (November 12).

Scope of the fund and selection process

The fund is being allocated to address climate risks. The grant is being provided under the CIF's Climate Resilience Investment Programme. According to sector-related sources, 25 expressions of interest were initially submitted, representing more than US$700 million in potential investment opportunities across various sectors. Through that process, six countries have been selected.

Significance for Bangladesh

Experts consider this grant highly significant for Bangladesh, one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries. The funds are expected to play a supportive role in tackling natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, and river erosion.

List of other countries

The names of the other countries receiving the fund alongside Bangladesh have not yet been officially announced. However, relevant sources indicate that several climate-vulnerable nations in South Asia and Africa are on the list.

Next steps

It has been learned that the government will announce a detailed plan in the coming days regarding how the grant money will be spent and which projects will be prioritized. The Ministry of Environment has assured that necessary steps will be taken to ensure proper utilization of these funds.